Wall assembly



A ril20, 1943. AL 2316,'980

Ap 20, 1943. c. SIGLOCH ET AL 3 3 WALL ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 1, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A ril 20, 1943. c. SIGLOCH ET AL 2,316,98o

WALL ASSEMBLY` Filed Sept. l, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 z Z? N F a u 36 INVENTOR [ou/o' C'. :Si/och A TORNEY :1 `Figz lis a. sectional viewon an enlargecl scaletaken on the lineI-l of Fignl'. v i i i r i Patented A 2o, `1943 WALL AS EMBLY i i\ Corporation, New NewYork 10th; Y., `a. coi-poreno@ o! r omce buildings andthelike It is` quite common to arrange'o'r reafr'ange .suites 'ofomcesby the installation ot partitions V which are 'either built in place or madeupof prefabricated sectone "The sectional p`a `.rtltions,``

` fabricated for the mostpart in a. manufactur- 4 4 ;ing establishn'ent,` havenumerou's obvl ous ad i z venteges. However, the truetur'es of this' type here'tofore proposed have 'notprovided the d'e-` *i 'edlightness in weight and ease` of essembly" and in other ways have failed to' meet the requirements of the art. i f' .An object of; 'the present invention; is `to `p`ro--` V de en` improvedwall or partition assembly made i up ot prefabric'ated sections arranged for 'readya essembly without therequirements .ot zihy greeth` amount of skilled labor.

Another object of-the invehtlon is the proviit'ant to tra smis sionofoundtherethroughL` A further object of the invention lstheprovl- 'ion of an ass mbly of thettypereferred to above which will permit of the removel of one ormore -panels from any portion thereol' without feqi ing the disassem'bly of the entirepartltlon. p

. &still furtherobjec't of the invention is the provisionioien improved' panel construction for an assembly of the type referrecl to;

= Our invention will be more Iully underto'od v and furtherobjects and advantages thereot will become apper'ent when reference is medeto the' detailed description thereof` which isto'follow paneljwith aw a.y, -emp`loye`d in the'contruction otF1g. 1: f i

sectional View on :an enlarged 'scale Fig. 5` isa ;sectional viewtaken on line 5 of'Fig".4; t v Fi 6 is a-sec 'onal view taken on line S -S of Fig; 7 is a. perspective viewof an element of -the'assembly; i Fig. 8 is e, perspctive of the assembly';

H "I'he 'present invention-relates to'iniprovedwall: i\ i -or partition'as'sembliefor subdivldlng spacef in t the-ass mbly; v

4 u Flg'. is a. detail view i *contructionofthe assembly ofthe'intant n A Fig;` 9 is a perepective I\ view of illustrathg come! ll-H of Flg. 10:-and

i -Refe'rring now to' the 4 larly to Fig; 1, there is shown a wall or partition fassembly comprising a. plurality or similar panels o Secured inedget'o edge abutting relationship.

` 'As''illust'aitedg the panels 'may be imperforate 'throughout their areas or' may includea .window opening [2 or door opening IL The partition assembymay be employed in any deslred rmner to` subdivide `u. space and may extendv i afounda; cornera indicatedg'enerallyrat IE;`

tition is primerily' composed each comprises in fthe preferred embodiment* (see Fig.`2) a !rame !8 of Wood orother suitalble irnateriel,` a core I within 'the-treme, and racing` panels 22 secured over the frame nd co're. Suitably,-the `panels are construted as described in the 'copending "application of George D. Kellogk; Serie]` No.

54,011, flledf December 12, 1935, issued September 19, 1939, Pat'entNo'. 2,1'73,808, to include a. lightweight core. preferably in theform of a grid v u u asgillustrated in Fig. 2. The gridis composecl of 'intersecting strips ofajlbreboard material havlngfrelatively broaid supportingfaces for the face i panels.` *m face pa'nls 22 are adhesively ::e-`

cured 'to opposite sl des" of the core and* to the i h framemembers; the racing `panels being formed off& materialfwhichis substanti'ally stable :s` to e shepe`upon exposureto air of varying relative `hun'nidity.` Suitably, for this purpose sheets of va.- hardened eompre'se'd asbestbs"-cement composition are employed;` 'In lieuof such sheetsJaci ing elements compri'sing efcomposite ot e plurality' oi' plies of Wood; 'veneer may be used; the

l\ gram in'one py prerefablyextendiug at an angle i to `"the grein in `ect'lcent biles, Although the *above described` constrictions are preferred, it

` will be uiderstood that any other suit eble type oi' panel structure may be employed.-i i

tions 26 and 28 'are provided with passegeways 30 e sectionelg view teken on the llhe di'awin gs, end particu- Stiles'flofjfram'e roject aboveahd below the-panelproper to` `provide extending `end por- `tions !Band 28, respectively. The extending porfully pointed out. The panels each carry' attaching clips 35 (see particularlyFigs. 2 and 9) for a purpose later to be described. The faces of the stiles 24 forming the edges of the panels are of substantially S-configuration (see particularly Fig. 3), theposition of the "S" in`the face of the stleconstitutingone edge of 'the panel being reversed to that at the other edge, whereby the contiguous faces of the stiles of adjace'nt panels cooperate to provide an interlock as illustrated" in Fig. 3.

,Panels which are to include windows or the like are of substantially the same Construction 'as those described above, except that a window' frame member 32 of any suitable type, such as illustrated for example in Figs. 1 and 4, and suitment to permit the passage of bolts 58 through the notches and apertures. `'The bolts are then d-awn up tightly to bring theupper 'portlons of panel edges in close abutting re1atlonshlp. i i

A stiening rail i provide d; to extend lonsi- -'tudinally 'of the upper edge of the' a'ssemb1ed panels, the 'stiffenlng 'rail comprising anopen chamiel member 80 (see Figs. 1, 4 and') to which molding strips 84 are secured as by screws 82 or the like, the channel and molding strips preferably being formed from sheet metal. The stiffenj ing rail, including channel 80 and molling' strips 84, is suitably'f-ormed into lengths sumcient to overlie a plurality of'th'e panels. Molding elements 84 includea retroverted extendinghflange i ably formed of metal or the like, is securedabout e a window opening cut in the panel. Similarly, the door openings may be defined by door casing members 34, suitably formed of metal. The panels may be'formed of vdierent widths andwill preferably be supplied in a number of stock sizes and window and door type to permit of suitable arrangement to provide' the desiredwall structure. i i

The partition assembly includes a base member, suitably a channel 40 .extending the length of the partition, except a't the door openings, and V secured to the floor of the room as by screws 42 or other suitable means. A panel support 44 (see Figs.` 1, 4, 6 and 8) is provided `for each of the lower extending portions-28- of the panel stiles; The supports includelegs 46, suitablybraced as by. element 48, constructed to straddle. channel member in relatively tight-fitting relationship,

whereby the supports are maintained against lateral shifting. The supports 44 are suitably formed of metal and include substantially cup- In the assembly of the stiffening rail on the partition; the molding strips are suitably secured to channel %and thestlfiening rail as a whole forced down over the upper edgeso the panels until flanges 86 snap. beneath lugs 1& forned on capmembers-fia. t i i If it is clesired to extend partitionstricture to the ceiling of the room or space 'in which; the

i partition is located, angle member:: 88,` eitherin the form of continuous strips or relatlvely; short sections as illustrated in Fig. 4, are Secured asby screws-90 or the like to channel 80, A strip sz i is Secured' to the ceilingby any suitable means may be of any suitable type but preferably are i constructed' similarlyas thepanels III, fill the shaped ,means for receiving alower extending portion 28 of a panel stile; the cup-like means comprising abase 50, a back wall 52, and side v walls 54. Back wall 52 includes an aperture 56,

preferably elongated as illustrated, to receive a. securing means. i i r supports 44, with their legs straddlingchannel member 40, engage thelower? extendingpcr tions 28 of the stiles of' the panels` o, placed in edge abutting relationship in the :manner illustrated particularly -in Figs. 1, 4 and 6. tWhenin this position,`apertures 56 lineiup with the slots 30 in the stile ends, the elongation of the apertures insuring, such alignment, irrespective of slight variations `in the vertical positioning ofthe sup ports `and panele; A bolt or other similar fastening* means 58 is-then passed ,throughthe aligned slots 30 of the contiguous portions 28 of acljacent panels and theapertures of the supports and' drawn up tightly to bring the abutting edges of the panels in close engagement' and to `festen :the panelsrigidly to the supports. v

A cap members!! (see Figs. 1, 4, &and 7), suit e ably formed otmetal and comprising a top 10,

side fianges 12 and an end flange|4is provided [or each extending stile portion` 26 at the upper ends of the ,panels. End' wall 14 includes an elongated aperture 'IE and side fianges 12 are loi-med with looking lugs or abutments718. The

latter are preferably struck up fromthe metal of' the cap 68, but may be formed in any suitable way. Cap members 68 are placed ov'erthe ends of extending portions 26 .of the' panel stiles, as 'illustrated particularly in Figs. `1, 4 and 5 with apertures 16 in alignment with the notches` formecl in the stiles, the elongation of the apertures aiding in securing sufficient vertical alignand side strips 94 arecarrledtherebyto provide a downwardly racing channeL Panele 96, .whlch space between the opposing channels with .their edges seated therein., i i i Referring now particularly to Fs. 10, ll and 12, a corner construction for the assembly is disclosed. The cornert `co'structin include a cor ner post IOO formed of `Wood or` the likeadjsent edge faces of which are oran s-eonfiguration complementary to that of the'abutting .panel `stiles. Upper and lowerende offcomer post 100 4 are reces sed as at l'uz, the wallsdefined by the of the building, a stud,'substantially correspond-` recesses being perforated as at' !04 and HIC; ree spectively in line with the .slots or the panel stiles. aBolts o' pass` through the alignedl per- `forations andslots of the panels to secure the cornerpost to the adjacent 'panels on `eachlside of the corner ina similar manner tthat in which the adjacent panels are securedttoether.

`The S-shaped'configuration of the confronting' faces of the panels and the corner postinsure a tight joint and allgnment of the panels with the corner post. The extending channels terminate adjacent the eorner and a specialcorner channel member lolis provided (see rigyo) having the flangeon only its'. outerj'tfwo edges. Moldng strips los; constructed'to form' afbevel joint av thecorner; are secured to the' member "[08, the molding strlps preferably 'being of such length as to break joints with the channel 100.*

For attachment of an end of the partltion' to another partition wallo" to a' permanentjwall ingto a stile of the panela maybe securedtol-the wall in any suitable manner and secured 'to' the adjacent panel in the same manner that the pan,-

" els are secured together.

` The baseboards carry attaching clips I |2 secured thereto' by expansion bolts' I ll or the like. The

riedbyipanels !0. 'In the assembly of the baseboards with the partition structure the toes of I the elements I|2 are inserted over the flanges of channels 40 and the upper ends of the boards then swung inwardly until portions l s resiliently interlockbehnd the fianges of theelements 36. The base panels may be removed by merely torcing outwardly the upper edge of the panel to rel'ease the` resilient interlock; v

A` partition or wall structure in accordance with the invention is adapted foriready assembly and disassembly, is light in weight, and otherwise meets the requirements of the art. Any desired portion of the partition may be removed without aflecting the remainder by disassembling the baseboards and stifiening member from the portion ot the partition to be removed, withdrawing the bolts connecting the panels at this location, and pressing outwardly on contiguous panels adjacent the joint to swing them out of alignment with the -remainder of the partition.

Due to the snap engagement of the molding strips of the stifl'ening rails behind lugs 18 of cap members 68, removal of the stiffening rail requires merely the insertion of a suitable tool such as a screw driver behind the molding strips to press in fianges 86 while the stifiening rail is liited upwardly. The substantial S-configuration of the adjoining edges of the panels, holds the panels tightly against rattling and against lateral shifting when the bolts 58 are in place, and also prevents the presence of cracks which will permit light infiltration through the joint between the panels.

Having thus described our invention in 'rather full detail, it will be understood that these details need not be Strictly adhered to, but that various changes and modifications will suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, all falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the subjoined claims.

What we claim is:

1. A wall assembly comprising panels in edge abutting relationship and each including means extending beyond the ends' of the panels proper adjacent their longitudinal edges, unitary cuplike means receiving said first-named means, and means passing through said first-named means and a wall of each said cup-like means for maintaining said panels in said edge abutting relationship.

2. A wall assembly comprising panels in edge abutting relationship and each including a frame comprising longitudinal stiles having portions extending beyond the ends of the panels, supports for said panels, each support comprising extended legs and a unitary cup-like means for receiving each of the extending stile portions at the lower end of said panels, unitary caps for receiving the extending stile portions at the tops of said panels, and means passing through extending stile portions of adjacent panels and through walls of said cup-like elements and said caps adjacent the bottoms and tops of said panels, respectively, to maintain said panels in edge abutting relationship. i

3. A wall assembly comprising panels in edge abutting relationship, each of said panels including a !rame comprising stiles extending above the panel, cap members fltting over each ot said extending stile portions and including looking lugs; means passing through adjacent of said extending stile portions of adjoinin'g'panels `for maintaining said panels in assembled relationship, a stifiening member overlying and extending longitudinally of the upper edges of said assembled panels, and means secured to said stiflening means and cooperating with said lugs for maintaining said stifiening means on the as- `sembly. n

i 4. A wall assemblycomprising panels in edge abuttlng relationship, each of said panels including portions extending beyond the upper ends oi' `the panels 'proper adjacent their longitudinal edges, cap members fitting over each of said expassing through adjacentof said extending portions of` adjoining panels for lmaintaining said panels in assembled relationship, and astiffening rail overlying and extending along the` upper edges of said assembled panels, said rail including molding members cooperating with said lugs for maintaining said stiffening rail in position on said assembly.

5. A wall assembly comprising panels secured in edge abutting relationship, members carried by the upper edges of said panels including locking lugs, and a stifiening rail comprising a channel member with its base resting on and extending along the upper edges of said assembled panels, said rail including molding members depending therefrom and cooperating with said lugs for maintaining said stiffening rail in position on said assembly.

6. A wall assembly comprising panels secured in edge abutting relationship, members carried by the upper edges of said panels including looking lugs, a stifrening rail comprising a. channel member with its base resting on and extending along the upper edges of said assembly, said rail including a molding member depending therefrom and comprising a retroverted flange for snapping eng'agement below saidlugs.

7. A wall assembly comprising panels in edge abutting relationship, each of said panels including a frame comprising stiles extending above the panel, cap members fitting .over each of said extending portions and including looking lugs, means passing through adjacent of said extending portions of adjoining panels for maintaining said panels in assembled relationship, a stifiening rail overlying and extending along the upper edges of said assembled panels, said rail including molding members comprlsing a retroverted flange for snapping engagement below said lugs.

8. A wall assembly comprising panels supported from a floor in edge abutting relationship, each of said panels including means extending beyond the lower ends of the panels proper adjacent their longitudinal edges, a base member secured to the floor in vertical alignment with the assembly, and unitary supports including legs positioned by said member and cup-like elements for receiving said extending means.

9. A wall assembly comprising panels supported from a floor in edge abutting relationship, each of said panels including means extending beyond the lower ends of the .panels proper adjacent their longitudinal edges, a base member secured to the e floor in vertical aligmnent with the assembly, and unitary supports including legs positioned by said member, a cup-like element for receiving ing adjacent of' said extending portions ot ad- V joining panels. v

10. A wall assembly comprising panels supported from a floor in edge abutting -re1ationship.'each of said panels including a' frame comprising stiles extending below the panel, a' base membersecured to the floor in vertical alignment with the assembly, and unitary supports including legs D sitioned by saidmember and cup-like elements for receiving said extending portions of said stiles, and bolts Vconnecting adjacent of said extend'ng portions. a

11. A wall assembly comprising panels supported from a floor in edge abuttlng relationship, a. basemember Secured to the floor in vertical alignment with the assembly, means supporting the'panels'in spaced relationship' to said base memben baseboards closing the r space between 'said panels and said base member, members in- "zmo' ed from afloorin ed abuttmg relationsh .ai

base member Secured to the floor in vertical algnment withthe assembly, means supporting 'the panels and said 'base member, members including cluding resilient flanges carried' by the 'lower edge t ofsaid' pan1s,"and"1ocking means carried by said 'base-boards coopera'ting with said last-mentioned resflient flanges carried by the lower edge of said panels, and looking means earried .bysald'base boards, each of said looking means comprlsing a toe inserted over a flange of said base member and a resilient p'rojecting portion in yieldable interlocking engagement with a flange of onetot said second-mentionedmembers. 13.- A wall'assembly comprising panels extending at rightangles'to each other, `each of said stud'in` the comer 'between said panele; andmeans passing `through the ends 01' the stad, theextending portions of the adjacent stiles of' thepan eis and a' wall of the cup-like members securlng said panels to said stud.

V CHARLES W.-LUND.

LOUS c. sIGLocH. 

